Bag construction

ABSTRACT

A shopping bag has an upper opening and two sidewalls. From an upper edge of one of the sidewalls a flap projects upwardly. The flap and the upper edge region of the other sidewall are provided with reinforcing strips and with apertures extending through the strips and the underlying material of the flap and other sidewall, respectively. The one sidewall is provided in its upper edge region, but downwardly of the flap, with another reinforcing strip which holds in place a loop handle. In use the flap is folded over the opening until the apertures align, and the handle is pulled through both apertures to the exterior where it may be gripped by a user.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Karl-Heinz llonsel Strassburger Stress 25, 48 Bielefeld, Germany [21] Appl. No. "20,520

[22] Filed Mar. 18, 1970 [45] Patented Oct. 5, 1971 [32] Priority Mar. 22, 1969 [33] Germany [54] BAG CONSTRUCTION 10 Claims, 1 Drawing Fig.

[521 (LS. Cl 229/54 C, 150/1,7,150/7 [51] Int. (1 365d 33/12 [50] Field of Search 229/54 R,

54C; l50/l.7,7, 12

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,836,344 5/1958 Gatward 229/54 0 3,373,925 3/1968 Gatward..... 229/54 0 3,456,865 7/1969 Frank 229/54 0 Primary Examiner-Donald F. Norton Attorney-Michael S. Striker ABSTRACT: A shopping bag has an upper opening and two sidewalls. From an upper edge of one of the sidewalls a flap projects upwardly. The flap and the upper edge region of the other sidewall are provided with reinforcing strips and with apertures extending through the strips and the underlying material of the flap and other sidewall, respectively. The one sidewall is provided in its upper edge region, but downwardly of the flap, with another reinforcing strip which holds in place a loop handle. In use the flap is folded over the opening until the apertures align, and the handle is pulled through both apertures to the exterior where it may be gripped by a user.

axe CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to bag, and more particularly to carrying bags of the type popularly known as "shopping bags." I

Such bags are usually available in department stores and similar establishments for the use of customers whose purchases are placed into the bag for greater convenience in carrying. However, bags of this type may frequently also be purchased separately. In any case, they conventionally consist of a relatively strong paper and have secured to their upper circumferential margins, reinforcing strips of cardboard each formed with a grip in form of cutouts which are to be aligned when in use.

In these known constructions it is necessary to provide the upper edges of the bag with downwardly foldable flaps each of which is provided with a reinforcing strip of cardboard, with each strip having two incisions to form paper or cardboard tongues which are to be pulled through the cutouts. Each sidewall of the bag is further reinforced by additional cardboard strips aflixed downwardly of the flaps and provided with the aforementioned grips. In use, the bag is closed by folding both flaps down onto one of the sidewalls, drawing the tongues through the now overlying aligned cutouts, and passing the users hand through the cutouts which serve as a grip.

This is evidently a rather elaborate construction. In addition, the reinforcing strips must be so dimensioned-particularly in their width-as to be relatively strong, because in use of the partially or completely filled bag the contents exert a substantial pull and torque on the upper bag portions. This results frequently in tearing of the material.

Furthermore, it is not pleasant to carry such bags-especially if they are relatively full-because the stiff cardboard reinforcing strips, or rather the edges thereof surrounding the cutouts, tend to cut into the hand of a user. A further disadvantage is the fact that such bags can be quite readily used as shoplifting props, because they can be carried in open condition without causing particular notice, simply by passing the hand of a user through the aligned cutouts without previously folding the flaps down.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to overcome these disadvantages of the prior art.

A more particular object is to provide a bag of the type under discussion which is free from these drawbacks.

Another object is to provide such a bag which is particularly simple and inexpensive in its construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a bag which can be carried readily and without discomfort.

A concomitant object is to provide such a bag which is resistant to tearing to a much greater degree that what is known from the prior art.

ln pursuance of the above objects, and others which will become apparent hereafter, the invention resides in a bag which, briefly stated, comprises wall means constitutinga bag, particularly a shopping bag, comprising wall means constituting a bag having an upper opening and two opposite sidewalls each provided with a marginal zone bounding a portion of said opening; a flap projecting upwardly beyond the opening from the marginal zone of one of the sidewalls; a pair of first reinforcing strips provided on the marginal zone and the flap of the one sidewall; a second reinforcing strip on the marginal zone of the other of the sidewalls; a first aperture penetrating the flap and the associated first reinforcing strip,

and a second aperture penetrating the marginal zone of the other sidewall and the second reinforcing strip; and a loop handle secured to the marginal zone of the one sidewall by the associated first strip and sequentially extendable through the second aperture and the aperture upon bending of the flap to a position in which the first aperture registers with the second aperture.

originating with the load caused by the contents of the bag is absorbed by the handle and no longer transmitted to the material of the bag itself. This makes it possible, in particular, to dimension the reinforcing strips rathermore-weakly than was heretofore feasible with a concomitant saving in material.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved bag itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional features and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The single FIGURE is a fragmentary, rather diagrammatic illustration of a bag embodying the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS does not interfere with the novel construction of the upper portion. v

The bag, which in unused (empty) condition is rather fiat is conventional with such bags, has two opposite sidewalls l and 4. At their junctures itis provided with inwardly extending folds or gussets 8. The sidewall 1 has a flap 7 projecting upwardly from its upper edge. A cardboard (other materials are of course also suitable) reinforcing strip 2 is secured to the inner side of wall I, holding in place the opposite ends of a strip-shaped loop handle 3. Flap 7 and wall 4 are each provided with further reinforcing strips 5 and 5a, respectively. These are both located on the inwardly facing sides of the fiap 7 and wall 4, for aesthetic rather than structural reasons. An aperture 6 penetrates flap 7 and strip 5; a similar aperture 6a penetrates wall 4 and strip 5a.

To close the illustrated bag, the handle 3 is passed through the aperture 6a. Then the flap 7 is folded over the opening of the bag into abutment with the outer side of wall 4, so that its aperture 6 becomes aligned with the aperture 6a. The handle 3 is now also passed through aperture 6 and can be gripped by the hand of a user, holding the flap 7 and the upper marginal portions of the walls 1 and 4 in tight engagement.

Handle 3 may consist of a paper strip which is folded back upon itself repeatedly. However, it may also be of synthetic plastic. Essential is that the material be capable of undergoing and withstanding the twisting which it will encounter in use of the bag. The configuration of handle 3 is of course such that the bag can be conveniently and comfortably carried. The use construction.

Because the weight of contents no longer can exert a torque or twisting stress on the material of the bag itself, the strips 2, 5 and 5a may be of comparatively (relative to the prior art) weak dimensions.

It is evident from the drawing that even if the bag is substantially filled, folding-over of the fiap 7 is simple, because only a single flap is present and the folds or gussets 8 do not interfere with it, and vice versa.

The only force acting directly on the novel bag is the weight of its contents, and this is readily absorbed via the handle 3 and the strip 2. The latter may consist of thin cardboard, strong paper or a suitable plastic. Advantageously it is in the form of an adhesive strip (it may be self-adhesive) having adhesive on one side only, so that it can be readily and economically applied by machine to the wall 1.

According to the invention it is preferable that the apertures be smaller than at least the adult human hand-statistical information concerning the size relationships is readily available-so that a user has no choice but to carry the bag by handle 3. This, on the other hand, is possible without danger of tearing (of the handle 3 from wall 1) if the bag is even partially filled, only if the bag is properly closed as described before. In

other words, this is a simple but most effective way of preventing the use of bag 3 as an implement for shoplifting, because a potential shopliiter finds it impossible to carry the novel bag in open condition and to unobtrusively slip stolen articles into it.

Thus, the novel bag is simpler and less expensive to construct than the known bags, itis more comfortable to carry, and it does not lend itself to use as a receptacle for goods stolen by shoplifting. It does, in short, represent a genuine advance in the art.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of articles differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a bag, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention, and therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

1. A bag, particularly a shopping bag, comprising wall means constituting a bag having an upper opening and two opposite sidewalls each provided with a marginal zone bounding a portion of said opening; a flap projecting upwardly beyond said opening from the marginal zone of one of said sidewalls; a

pair of first reinforcing strips provided on said marginal zone and said flap of said one sidewall; a second. reinforcing strip on the marginal zone of the otherof said sidewalls; a first aperture penetrating said flap and the associated first reinforcing strip, and a second aperture penetrating said marginal zone of said other sidewall and said second reinforcing strip; and a loop handle secured to said marginal zone of said one sidewall by the associated first strip and sequentially extendable through said second aperture and said first aperture upon bending of said flap to a position in which said first aperture registers with said second aperture.

2. A bag as defined in claim 1, wherein said strips consist of cardboard.

3. A bag as defined in claim 1, wherein said wall means consists at least predominantly of paper.

4. A bag as defined in claim 1, wherein said loop handle is composed of an elongated strip of twistable material having opposite end portions secured to said marginal zone of said one sidewall.

5. A bag as defined in claim 4, wherein said loop handle consists of synthetic plastic material.

6. A bag as defined in claim 4, wherein said loop handle consists of paper and includes several folded superimposed sections.

7. A bag as defined in claim 1, wherein at least said first strip associated with said marginal portion of said one sidewall has one surface facing said one sidewall and coated with adhesive material.

8. A bag as defined in claim7, wherein said adhesive materi al is a self-adhesive substance.

9. A bag as defined in claim I, wherein said first and second apertures are so dimensioned as to preclude passage of at least an adult human hand.

10. A bag as defined in claim 1; further comprising inwardly directed gussets in said wall means at the junctures between said sidewalls. 

1. A bag, particularly a shopping bag, comprising wall means constituting a bag having an upper opening and two opposite sidewalls each provided with a marginal zone bounding a portion of said opening; a flap projecting upwardly beyond said opening from the marginal zone of one of said sidewalls; a pair of first reinforcing strips provided on said marginal zone and said flap of said one sidewall; a second reinforcing strip on the marginal zone of the other of said sidewalls; a first aperture penetrating said flap and the associated first reinforcing strip, and a second aperture penetrating said marginal zone of said other sidewall and said second reinforcing strip; and a loop handle secured to said marginal zone of said one sidewall by the associated first strip and sequentially extendable through said second aperture and said first aperture upon bending of said flap to a position in which said first aperture registers with said second aperture.
 2. A bag as defined in claim 1, wherein said strips consist of cardboard.
 3. A bag as defined in claim 1, wherein said wall means consists at least predominantly of paper.
 4. A bag as defined in claim 1, wherein said loop handle is composed of an elongated strip of twistable material having opposite end portions secured to said marginal zone of said one sidewall.
 5. A bag as defined in claim 4, wherein said loop handle consists of synthetic plastic material.
 6. A bag as defined in claim 4, wherein said loop handle consists of paper and includes several folded superimposed sections.
 7. A bag as defined in claim 1, wherein at least said first strip associated with said marginal portion of said one sidewall has one surface facing said one sidewall and coated with adhesive material.
 8. A bag as defined in claim 7, wherein said adhesive material is a self-adhesive substance.
 9. A bag as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second apertures are so dimensioned as to preclude passage of at least an adult human hand.
 10. A bag as defined in claim 1; further comprising inwardly directed gussets in said wall means at the junctures between said sidewalls. 